Modeling the fictional B&M Dowe, NH branch in the early 50's.
Age, 33
About 20 years on an off in the hobby.
N scale although I am really tempted to tinker with On30
DCC, converted and never looked back.
Protolance, CNW, in Madison WI transition era.
Sean
I am 32 years old, model in HO (protolance) and have been involved in model railroading for as long as I can remember. A favorite family story is about me taking one of my father's F-7 shells and scooping water out of the toilet when I was 2.
But I think that is the key to how to bring new blood into the hobby. We must engage our children early and involve them in our interests, as well as taking an interest in theirs. My father started introducing me and my siblings to railroading from the beginning. Sure, it resulted in some trains being broken by little hands (or put int the toilet), but now, all four grandchildren (well one is only 3 weeks old, so I guess he doesn't count yet) are very interested in trains. My two oldest, ages 4 and 2, love trains. They love railfanning. They love looking at train pictures on the computer, love watching train movies and love to go to grandpa's to see the trains on his layout. They have gotten their mom to suggest (and enjoy) railfanning trips. My nephew, now 14, has his own HO layout. And all because a father involved his children in his interests. And now that I am doing the same with my three boys, they are getting interested in the hobby as well. Sure, who knows what will happen over the years, but they are on their way. So if we want to introduce new blood to the hobby, lets take it to our kids. Like the commercial says, the thing your kid wants most for (insert your event here), is you.
I'm 59, got my first Lionel at age 5 or 6, and practically wore it out for about 8 years. (then came high school, college and girls, you know the drill). Started to collect HO stuff in 1993 and have been at it ever since, so have been in the hobby approximately 25 years now.
I proto/freelance (abandoned N&W/PRR/B&O rail line along an industrial corridor taken over by local industry-owned RR) in northern Ohio (see tag).
age: 55, years in hobby: 30, HO (currently, have modeled in HOn3 and Sn3 in the past), DCC. I currently model Nevada mining railroads pre-WW1. - Nevin
Iam 68 yrs old started in model railroading when I was 8 yrs old until I was 18 yrs old I just got back in to it this spring ho dcc with sound layout 8 x 10.
Age 63
Been in the hobby as a hobby since December 1971 - 39 years. Had trains as a kid, but I'm not sure crashing my trains into my brothers' trains is what THIS hobby is all about..
Current primary scale is S, but I still have all my HO, O-2 rail, O-3 rail, G, and my son's N. Also have some Sn2.
S standard gauge is DCC, everything else is DC except the O-3 rail which is AC.
The S standard gauge is mostly prototype Ma&Pa RR circa 1953, but I allow some anachronisms and fantasy. Everything else is all over the place.
Enjoy
Paul
Ok..here goes..
Age: 59Years in hobby: 47Scale: HODCCPrototype modeling past 5 years; freelance before
Charles
Well I'm 53 and have always been interested in trains. Real trains were a big part of our family when I was young, so I guess it was natural to have layouts of different sizes into my teens.
I had a hand me down "O" setup that I played with so much that Santa brought me a "Lone Star Treble O" train set in the early 1960s. It was about the same size as "N" scale. I still have it all carefully packed up in my trainroom office.
I now model HO/NCE,DCC. Based on a ficticious 1950s CPR Rocky Mountain Division. It takes up a 15' x 24' room. I have a space larger than that to expand into if I ever find myself near completion on that part.
Four years ago the Rheumatologist/Sports Medicine Doctor looked at my MRI and X-rays and said "judging by these and all the broken bones you've had it must have been a heck of a ride. Was it worth it? My answer was absolutely. I am now full of Arthritis and on Medical retirement.
Unable to Golf, mountain bike or downhill ski anymore I turned to trains and that has help me to keep sane. I ride a recumbent bike most days to stay skinny and in shape. After that it is to the train room.
I thank dear old Dad for getting me into trains at a very young age and have had a lot of interest in it throughout my life.
Even though he died in 1993 I always feel he is there with me in the train room grinning ear to ear at our layout, as it is something he could only have dreamed about having.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Age: Late 40's
Years in hobby: ignoring childhood teen and earlier adult forays into O N HO & HOn30, years in current scale : 10+
Scale: 1/22.5 scale on 45mm track (G Gauge) straight DC, and strictly maybe even ferociusly Freelance
Era: Mid century
Have fun with your trains
Ok, I'm 73, got a Marx at age 9 and a Lionel at age 11. Been in and out of active for many years, dabbled in N for a couple of years for my kids. Now active HO for 16 years, have 3 years active Free-mo and now 1 year with a home layout under construction. I am NMRA and OpSIG and currently do monthly Ops sessions on 3 different layouts, and play around on the local club's home layout weekly. John Colley, Port Townsend, WA
ruderunner It seems to be a common complaint that there's less "new blood" entering this hobby than years ago. I won't even try to deny that since there are lot's more hobbies to get involved in nowadays. But I don't think it's all doom and gloom as some folks think. And since I've not seen anyone put up any actual numbers to confirm the situation, I figured maybe a quick survey to feel the pulse of the hobby is in order. I'll keep it breif: Age of modeler, years in hobby (armchair hobbying counts), scale, DC or DCC, prototype-freelance-protolance I think that covers the big splits, one could ask lots more questions and micro manage this but that may be too much to handle without having professional surveyers doing it. So I'll start: age 36, approx 30 yrs, HO, DCC (recent convert), protolance
It seems to be a common complaint that there's less "new blood" entering this hobby than years ago. I won't even try to deny that since there are lot's more hobbies to get involved in nowadays. But I don't think it's all doom and gloom as some folks think. And since I've not seen anyone put up any actual numbers to confirm the situation, I figured maybe a quick survey to feel the pulse of the hobby is in order. I'll keep it breif:
Age of modeler, years in hobby (armchair hobbying counts), scale, DC or DCC, prototype-freelance-protolance
I think that covers the big splits, one could ask lots more questions and micro manage this but that may be too much to handle without having professional surveyers doing it.
So I'll start: age 36, approx 30 yrs, HO, DCC (recent convert), protolance
I am 62. I didnt start as a kid since my parents couldn't afford either Lionel or American Flyer' in the 1950s. When they could I wasn't interested since I had gotten into plast ships, aircraft and armored fighting vehicles.
I didn't get involved in model railroading until my oldest was almost three when I took him to a store that carried TYCO HO trainsets. I bought one and also got other stuff until I figured out that HO and garden apartment didn't get along to well together. So I was into HO from about 1977 to 1981 when I began to dabble with N-Scale and found that I liked it. Meanwhile the kid had no interest in trains.
In 1982 we movedf out of the two bedroom garden apartment into a basement with a house attached. I had a trainroom at last and began building a layout in 14' x 12' 3" room set aside for the purpose after negotiations with she who must be obeyed. That layout was under construction of the next five years but never got as we enlarged the house and had to store some stuff in the train room. It stayed that way for the next 20 years while I pursued my profession (accounting) until the company I last worked for in 1987 went bankrupt and closed its doors. So in 2007 I decided that I weasn't interested in trying to find another job in and NYC that was already in the throes of a recession and the great flight of employment either overseas or across state lines I would retire and try to find some part time college teaching to supplement my income. I aso devcided to see wha had become of my N-Scale layout.
Over the 20 some odd years that it had served as what can best be described as a garbage dump, certain things on it had gotten crushed or otherwise destroyed. So I gathered up the garbage and threw it out. That inlcuded my crushed turntable and most of the structures. So I decided to dismantle what I had and start from scratch. And that is exactly what I did.
I am not unhappy that I took that 20 year break. I probably needed to do that as I think I am a better model railroader today than I would have been without it. I joined a club which I had never thought to do in the 1980s. That was a good thing because I have learned many new things of which I would not been conscious of otherwise.
My new layout which has been under construction since the beginning of 2008 is based on the New York Connecting Railroad which never had any locomotives or rolling stock but provided a very necessary srevice because it owned the track and bridges (including the Hell Gate Viaduct and Bridge which allows trains to run from the Brooklyn Army Terminal through Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx and also connects Grand Central Station to points north and into Connecticut.
Irv
I'm 37, and I'm new to it, so say less than 1 year. I am starting a small layout in HO scale, undecided on DC/DCC, and freelanced.
I'm glad this thread was done and I am happy to see a number of people my age or younger. It is also nice to see people on YouTube like Big Al Mayo who break the mold of the stereotypical model railroader. I think MR could do a lot to grow the hobby by changing public perceptions.
I'm 50 years old and have a 18month old Protolance layout that I will call my second layout. It is my first completely dedicated to model railroading. Ho scale, DCC with sound so far. Have loved the process so far completely--- my wife says I need to find a balance and get out of the mancave!!!!
Merry Christmas everyone,
Bart
Well Here's my story. I'm 41and have been in and out of the hobby for a while now.
my dad built my first HO layout when I was about 3 for Christmas. Then later on when I was 8 I helped him build a larger double track HO layout with a couple of sidings. Got it part way sceniced before I gave it up. had other interests in my teens. then started to get interested again in my late 20's but did not do too much as far as another layout. i've been interested in other hobbies and pursuits over the years. over the last couple of years I've started modeling in N. I don't have much room for an extensive layout right now but Iam in the planning stages of a layout in the 3' by 6' range. The only real problem is cash flow right now. Just recently discovered TTrac modules that sounds interesting.
I am not sure about DCC yet
as far as Prototype or freelance I would say freelance right now and leaning towards western railroads Such as the UP and Utah railway.
Brian
42 going on 43, my grandfather gave me an O scale Pennsylvania steam locomotive at birth, but worked to buy my own HO set at age 7, still DC, freelance.
I doubt that this is a dying hobby, but I think model railroaders are a niche group. Besides that model railroaders are mostly solitary figures hiding in their basements! Kids (and parents) have different ideas about being a kid these days. My fiancees nephew will not be 3 until July, but in his idiot parents eyes he is a minature adult so for Christmas he is getting an ATV. A real gas powered one, not one of those battery powered things. How does one compete with that?
I remember when one broke into the hobby of remore control planes for a couple hundred bucks for a decent beginners plane. I thought that was a lot of money then. Now I look at locomotives and say "Sheesh." Guess I won't be buying a new loco anytime soon.
Robert H. Shilling II
Here we go:
Age: 34.
Years in hobby: As long as I can remember, I've had some sort of train.
Scale: HO
DC/DCC: Currently DC, but plans for DCC.
Protolancey.
39 years old; 36 years interest; HO; DCC and Sound, Proto-Freelance.
All the young ones come over and think model trains are way cool. All guests that visit want to see the trains. People of all ages love trains and some have started in the hobby from seeing what I've got going on.
Erik Fiske
I couldn't fix your brakes, so I made your horn louder
48 years young. I got my first HO trainset at age 10 or 11. An AHM. Played with it for about 5 or 6 years, then came cars, girls, jobs, marriage, you know, life. Now about three years ago I found my old trains and layout while cleaning out my Mothers house and I decided to take it home and set it up in the room in my basement that for the last 14 years has been saved for the day I can restart my Railroad Empire. Currently I'm DC but the layout will be DCC and that is kept in mind when wiring. So I guess I have about what 8 or 9 total years in the hobby but only the last 3 were what I'd call "hobby".
Oh and by the way for those curious. No, the TYCO's don't run anymore, but my very first loco, an AHM ALCO S-2, still grinds along like new.
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
I am 66, 40 Years in hobby 10 N,30 HO, DCC since 98, Proto/freelance
Larry
Age: 67Years in hobby: about 6 or 7. I have a lot of catching up to do.Scale: HOEra: April 27, 1950 @ 4p.m., give or take 30 yearsPower: DCC
71, here. Started in HO when I was 14.
Present layout is 'proto-lance'--Rio Grande and Southern Pacific steam during the WWII era.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
51,here and 51 into trains,HO modern most CSX and NS but have some of everything that runs in Canada and Mexico,DC and looking for wireless DC.
Russell
Age 40
1 year (armchair)
HO (eventually)
DCC (eventually)
freelance
Myself, 52, 15 approx, HO, DCC, Proto UP Memphis, Ark
My son, 12, 6, HO, DCC, Proto UP Memphis, Ark.
But my son has become very discouraged with the Athearn BB going away. They weren't hard for him to build and like most boys they like to build things. They were also cheap enough that he could save up enough money and buy them himself. So the RTR craze is pushing him away from the hobby. For his last birthday he wanted a kit for an SD90Mac H. I found a way through mostly Rail Power Products(Kato HM5) to make it happen. But this kit is requiring more help from me than he really wants.
Richard
Age: 47
Experience: approximately 20 yrs
DC. Protolance
- Douglas
A year ago last July I enjoyed my 80th birthday as pictured below. My wife says I'm still a kid and you know what, she's right.
My first trains were Lionel which I played with when I was 6 to 12 years old. They were brought out of storage when my son was of the right age and of course we added a lot to what was mine. This lasted three or four years.
In Feburary 2007 I registered on the Forum and started my HO journey.
I model the transition era and it is mostly free lanced except for some industries.
At first I thought I'd just be running trains but after seeing what is done by forum members the scenic aspect has become very important.
Happy Railroading
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up
15 years old (in 2 more weeks). 3 years (wanted a model railroad for several years previous). HO and N scales. DC (but wants to convert the HO to DCC soon). Freelancer.
The Lone Geep
Lone Geep
\
I'm not at all sure just what this "informal survey" is supposed to demonstrate, if anything at all. The only information it might produce is simply a listing of a tiny fraction of this forum's members vitals and the fact that there is a wide diversity in the members' ages and time in the hobby.
Considering that it is unlikely this thread will generate much more than perhaps 100 responses, this is minute compare with the actual number of hobbyists, or even the number of forum members. As such, any numbers derive would not have any statistical significance regarding any hobby demographic.
Further, even if the response was much larger than 100 individuals, the results could not illustrate anything meaningful for the simple reason that the group being polled is younger than the average of all hobbyists to begin with. This is a problem common with just about any poll conducted via the Internet. In fact, in this case it would likely insert an even greater bias, since the bulk of newcomers to the hobby over the past two decades apparently have been well beyond middle age, with many of the older ones probably not even Internet participants!
CNJ831
Age 56. Been modeling for about 10 years. HO using Canadian Pacific in the late 50's but the layout will be freelance. NCE Powercab DCC with sound. Still 'armchair' because of a lack of spare cash but I have almost all of my structures in one stage or another of construction, and a lot of rolling stock all weighted to NMRA standards and with metal wheelsets and Kadee #5's. I have installed DCC with sound in a few engines including an S3 and the first engine my wife bought for me 10 years ago which was Hogwart's Express. I know Hogwarts is pushing the freelance option a bit but I will run it as an occasional excursion train just for fun. I will use the same excuse to run steam from time to time. Currently learning how to light structures with both incandescent and LED lights. I like to do scratch built structures as well as kitbashing. Layout construction will begin after my son finishes spending our money at school.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!